We’ve loved this place since 2003. We’ve renovated, decorated, cultivated and
planted – boy have we planted! We’ve
made what people describe as a ‘magical place’
‘a place of peace and tranquility’.
This is one of the good things about Trip Advisor – people say such nice
things (mostly).
It’s been hard work at times but for the past few years
we’ve been able to enjoy the fruits of our labours as well as those of the
garden. With nearly nine acres of
garden, woodland and meadow bordered by a gentle brook and two pretty and
popular self-catering cottages we’ve been able to share this quirky,
characterful historic nice little place with hundreds of people now and it is
nice to make a living by essentially creating happiness.
Sharing a little piece of long lost old England with
stressed executives, exhausted parents and romantic couples – watching them
relax over the course of a weekend or longer is actually a very rewarding
occupation. So what’s it really like running holiday accommodation in your
home?
In truth we are the scaley legs and webbed feet working away
under the plain sailing serenity of the Brook Farm Swan. But with the help of local girls with the
cleaning and the support of local suppliers and neighbours we’ve been blessed
and things run smoothly - most of the time.
And when they don’t – a broken tap, a wasps’ nest, disappearing WiFi –
guests are always very understanding. I
think this is partly down to the whole place setting its own scene. It’s not the Ritz – it’s not a hotel with hot
and cold running staff – it’s just what it is and people seem to like the
relaxed unpretentious surroundings. It’s
shabby chic, it’s pretty, it’s Country Living magazine (not Country Life
magazine) – it’s rustic and not particularly elegant. As soon as you arrive you know it’s not the
sort of place where you have to leave your shoes at the door. The garden is wild and romantic and people
instinctively know they can flop wherever they want for as long as they
want. There is enough space for everyone
to get a little lost if they want to for a while – a real escape from the every
day.
Of course behind this laid-back ambience we’ve had to get a
lot of things right. Apart from the
layout and décor you’ve got to then get the hospitality right. There has to be a genuinely warm welcome, an
attitude of nothing being too much trouble, always being available to help but
not invading privacy. Some people like
to talk, some don’t. You’ve got to be
able to read people and be what they need you to be. Sometimes this means being several different
people over the course of a weekend as different guests staying at the same
time might want different things from you.
There is no point running a hospitality business if you
can’t be hospitable. Seems obvious but I
think we’ve probably all been places where we’ve wondered why on earth they’re
in the business if they can’t even manage a smile. With this sort of accommodation though, it is
your home and people are willing to accept ‘Your Way’ of doing things so long
as you do it with a smile and a warm heart, even when faced with a rare difficult
guest: Getting a smile on Saturday morning from a grumpy Friday night arrival
is a small but pleasing triumph. It’s my
job to make sure people are happy and it feels good when I can see that they
are.
We all know that more pleasure is gained from giving than
receiving and doing this for a living has been very rewarding. Sharing this lovely old place with others is
a win-win lifestyle – I get to work at home and in my garden, I get to give my
time and hospitality to people who really enjoy it and then they pay me!
So what’s not to like?
Why are we leaving? Well, this
nice little place is almost perfect – but it’s not by the sea and I’ve always
wanted to live by the sea. This year I am
50 and it’s time I headed to the coast.
So, with mixed emotions, as they say, we’re selling up and moving
on. In the property market these days
you can’t be fussy about who you sell to, but I’m hoping there’s someone out
there who will love this nice little piece of England as much as I have and
will live a happy and fulfilling life here, caring for it in the way we have.
So if you fancy taking over this blog, this life, this
nicelittleplace you know where you can find me……for now…….
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